“Keep looking straight ahead, without turning aside. Know where you are headed, and you will stay on solid ground. Don’t make a mistake by turning to the right or the left.” Proverbs 4:25-27
As we embark on a New Year, a new season of life- let’s forever be seeking Christ, keeping our eyes fixed on Him and His will and promises for our lives. There are those who will not have the opportunity to wake up to a new day. Each new day is a divine gift, make no mistake- that if we are still here on this earth, God has something more for us to do. Our goal is to fix our eyes on Him, so we do not miss the path that leads to life. (Proverbs 5:1-6) This scripture refers to being deceived by immorality. Throughout the Bible there are so many directives that clearly tells us what to do and clearly, what not to do.
There are however, many distractions out there, like this one in Proverbs 5:1-6, (read it) that will woo us off the path that God wants us to travel down. These words I am writing as a guidance not legalism. Legalism exists when people attempt to secure righteousness in God’s sight by good works. We are not able to earn or merit God’s approval. We already have His approval because of what Christ Has done for us!
God has given us all free will to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, so that much Glory goes to Him, and so to save our lives from paths of destruction. Things in this world come along to pull our direction to the right or to the left. I have learned that our hearts are important to guard. ( Proverbs 4:23) As we work for the Lord, we need to always do what we do for our Lord, not for churches, not for man, but purely for the Lord. There will be times that God will tell you to do a specific thing for the Church that you are attending. His word tells us to freely serve others in the house of God. It’s very important to ask God first and God will send someone from the church ministry to ask you to do just what the Lord has asked you to do, it’s called a confirmation. Learn to keep your heart guarded so that we do not stray away from what God really wants you to do. Over the years, I have watched so many young ones crash and burn, due to burn out. They are asked to do things and think that they have to always say yes. Boundaries teaches us that we need to always ask God first, then receive confirmation that we are, in fact in His will on the matter. We are able to do whatever God wants us to do when He has ordained for you to do it, He sends His help on the issue. Boundaries also tells us to set a safe space around who we are and not be swayed by man. Young ones have come to me for counsel and I always ask them, “What is your motive?” “Why are you doing this?”
Did God ask you to do it? Often, they are not able to answer the question. If God told you to do this, He will help you if that is the case. If your motive for doing it, is to receive popularity, kudos for a position, or any of your own selfish desires. It’s possible you may be a candidate that will crash and burn. God wants us to have willing hearts to do His will, not man’s will, so we always need to evaluate the motives of our hearts. What if we are tied up with a man-made busy job, while God is calling you to be in a completely different place doing something different? Only God has our whole plan before Him. That is why our heart’s focus needs to be on Him and to hear His voice. I had to learn this the hard way. When we love- we love because God tells us to, though it is not always easy. When we forgive, we do it because God tells us to, again we choose to forgive, pray for those who have hurt us. We as a church find ourselves working hard, butting heads, building offenses while doing things that God has not even told us to do. There may be moments where we as a body fill in gaps, but we need to guard our hearts and remain in prayer, until God releases the person who is supposed to do the job. James 4:3 ” You ask and do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your own pleasures.” Our heart motives are best to be, please find me in obedience to your will and your ways and “Your ways are passed our finding out” (Roman’s 11:33). The only things that we can know for sure are those things that He has seen fit to reveal to us. (Deut.9:29) True faith takes God at His word, believing that He will work all things out according to His perfect wisdom, justice and loving kindness. (Lordletmegrow)
To help us stay on track we need to stand guard over the motives of our hearts to ensure that we are not deceived to go astray. If you have never asked Jesus to be Lord of your life, no better time but the present.
Pray with me, Lord I am a sinner and I pray that you will forgive me of my wrong doings, come into my heart, be my Lord and help me through my life, send me Your Holy Spirit to comfort and guide me and I am so thankful for your love because I believe that Jesus died for me, rose from the grave, so I may have eternal life!
